title: Toward enabling winter occupations: testing a winter coat designed for older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research indicates that older adults have difficulties using winter clothing, which contributes to their risk of isolation during winter. Research has also shown that a winter coat that requires less flexibility, strength, and dexterity would help support this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study evaluated the measured and perceived effectiveness of a winter coat prototype that had a funnel sleeve design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight older adults trialed three coats (the participant's own coat, a coat fitted with sleeve gripper, and the prototype coat), which were evaluated though shoulder range of motion measurements and by the participant completing a survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Less shoulder range of motion was used to put on the prototype coat. Survey findings support range of motion data that Sleeve Gripper has limited utility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A funnel sleeve design may require less range of motion at the shoulder compared to other coats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7. stephanie.green@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Jennifer N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Boger
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mihailidis
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003020:Clothing; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018583:Pliability / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons; D012782:Shoulder / Q000502:physiology